After first experiencing a distressing "wa-wa" noise coming from the rear that seemed to trackwith the car's speed, I took it into the dealer, concerned that there was something wrong with the axle/differential. He told me to get new tires. (recommended Kumho)...which I did and it did make a big difference for a while...but now just 16K miles later with regular rotation and alignment, the incessant noise is back and getting worse.

From reviewing the threads here, I gather this is a common "trait" with the RX-8, with "get new tires" to be the popular prescription...

What is it about the RX-8 that makes it apparently so sensitive to tread wear? Is there anything besides new tires that will quiet things down? If not, is there a brand/model of tire that will give me more than 15k miles of being able to listen the engine instead of the having to turn up the radio to drown out the noise?

 

hate to say it, but "get new tires".

I've been told it's a by-product of the suspension ... have even read that some consider it a defect. For all I know it was the price Mazda paid to give us one of the best handling cars known to man.

 

You're probably hearing the "wa-wa" noise coming from the rear tires. The rears wear quite a bit more than you would think, because of the negative camber that is on the rear end. As for quieting it down, I can't offer any advice. As for tires, I got 30k out of a set of Falken 451's with rotation and balances every 6k miles. The 451's are discontinued but they have replaced them the 452's. I'm running Riken Raptors now...they are made with the exact rubber compound that Michelin uses on their ultra high performance tires, maily because Michelin owns Riken Tire now. I've gotten 15k out of this set so far and still not near the wear bar.

 

I hate to say what I am about to say because I'll surely get flamed for it by someone, but...

I was getting anywhere between 18K and 25K on various summer peroformance tires I have run on my 03 build - strange as it may sound I actually have gotten best mileago by far out of a set of Blizzaks. Got them for the winter about 3 years ago and they were great. Was short on cash so ran them all through the next summer assuming I would kill them and replace again the following winter. Didn't happen then and still hasn't happened after 30K plus on them.

Sure I have a small but noticeable reduction in performance right at the edge of the envelope over a high performance summer tire, but other than that they have defied belief. I'm still kicking butt off all challengers on twisty mountain roads where I live :-)!

 

Funny thing.....


There have not been alot of complaints about a wa wa sound from the rear end.

I would say this is not normal and you need to look further.

Get a good alignment shop, check for leaky shocks too!

 

I get that too just the hum of the tires but alot better than BFG Mud Terrain 38x12.50x15 on a chevy 350 haha